OCR A Level Law with correct questions and correct definitions
actus reus - definition-guilty act
ADR - definition-alternative dispute resolution; one of the key Woolf reform
recommendations
appropriation - definition-any assumption by a person of the rights of an owner
arbitration - definition-a form of ADR in which the parties choose an impartial third party to
hear and decide the dispute
assault - definition-where the defendant intentionally or recklessly causes the victim to
apprehend immediate unlawful personal violence/force
attempt - definition-if, with intent to commit an offence under s 1(1) of the Criminal
Attempts Act 1981, a person does an act which is more than merely preparatory to the
commission of the offence, they are guilty of attempting to commit the offence
automatism - definition-an involuntary act such as a spasm, reflex action or convulsion, or
an act performed while a person is unconcious (such as suffering from concussion or
sleepwalking)
autonomous - definition-legally capable of making one's own decisions, and therefore
legally responsible for their consequences
bail - definition-a form of security, either a sum of money or a promise, in exchange for the
freedom of an arrested person as a guarantee that they will appear in a criminal court when
required
balance of probabilities - definition-the civil standard of proof which means the claimant
must satisfy the court that their version of events is more likely than not
basic intent crimes - definition-crimes where recklessness will suffice as mens rea
battery - definition-the intentional or reckless application of unlawful force upon a victim
belonging to another - definition-belonging to any person having possession or control of
property or having any proprietary right or interest in it
Bill of Rights - definition-a document which sets out the civil rights of citizens
binding precedent - definition-a case decision from a senior court that must be followed in
future cases
burden of proof - definition-a defendant is innocent until proven guilty
, burglary - definition-where a trespasser enters a building (or part of a building) intending to
steal, inflict GBH or do unlawful damage; or having entered a building (or part of a
building), a trespasser steals or inflicts GBH, or attempts to do so
'but for' test - definition-the injury or damage to property must have been caused by the
breach of the duty of care, i.e. it would not have happened 'but for' the breach
civil courts - definition-a court dealing with non-criminal matters
claimant - definition-legal term for a person or organisation starting a civil claim in the
courts
conciliation - definition-a form of mediation where a third party is active in raising ideas for
compromise between the parties in dispute
conditional fee agreements (CFAs) - definition-'no win, no fee' arrangements
consent - definition-express or implied permission from the 'victim' for the defendant to
carry out the injury
constitutions - definition-sets of rules which state how a country is to be run and the
specific rights of its citizens
contemporaneity rule - definition-the general rule in English law that the actus reus and the
mens rea must occur at the same time
correspondence principle - definition-the result which the defendant intends or foresees
should match the result that actually occurs
criminal courts - definition-the Magistrates' Court deals mainly with summary offences,
and the Crown Court mainly deals with indictable offences
cyber-crime - definition-criminal activity carried out by the use of computers, generally via
the internet
damages - definition-money calculated to return the claimant to their original position
before the tort had taken place (in so far as it is possible to do so with money)
data protection - definition-the legal control of access to, and the use of, factual and
statistical data, generally stored in digital or paper-based systems
defendant - definition-legal term for a person defending or responding to a legal claim (a
respondent in some aspects of civil law)
delegated legislation - definition-secondary legislation, i.e. laws passed in a specific area
by a secondary body to which Parliament has passed its power
actus reus - definition-guilty act
ADR - definition-alternative dispute resolution; one of the key Woolf reform
recommendations
appropriation - definition-any assumption by a person of the rights of an owner
arbitration - definition-a form of ADR in which the parties choose an impartial third party to
hear and decide the dispute
assault - definition-where the defendant intentionally or recklessly causes the victim to
apprehend immediate unlawful personal violence/force
attempt - definition-if, with intent to commit an offence under s 1(1) of the Criminal
Attempts Act 1981, a person does an act which is more than merely preparatory to the
commission of the offence, they are guilty of attempting to commit the offence
automatism - definition-an involuntary act such as a spasm, reflex action or convulsion, or
an act performed while a person is unconcious (such as suffering from concussion or
sleepwalking)
autonomous - definition-legally capable of making one's own decisions, and therefore
legally responsible for their consequences
bail - definition-a form of security, either a sum of money or a promise, in exchange for the
freedom of an arrested person as a guarantee that they will appear in a criminal court when
required
balance of probabilities - definition-the civil standard of proof which means the claimant
must satisfy the court that their version of events is more likely than not
basic intent crimes - definition-crimes where recklessness will suffice as mens rea
battery - definition-the intentional or reckless application of unlawful force upon a victim
belonging to another - definition-belonging to any person having possession or control of
property or having any proprietary right or interest in it
Bill of Rights - definition-a document which sets out the civil rights of citizens
binding precedent - definition-a case decision from a senior court that must be followed in
future cases
burden of proof - definition-a defendant is innocent until proven guilty
, burglary - definition-where a trespasser enters a building (or part of a building) intending to
steal, inflict GBH or do unlawful damage; or having entered a building (or part of a
building), a trespasser steals or inflicts GBH, or attempts to do so
'but for' test - definition-the injury or damage to property must have been caused by the
breach of the duty of care, i.e. it would not have happened 'but for' the breach
civil courts - definition-a court dealing with non-criminal matters
claimant - definition-legal term for a person or organisation starting a civil claim in the
courts
conciliation - definition-a form of mediation where a third party is active in raising ideas for
compromise between the parties in dispute
conditional fee agreements (CFAs) - definition-'no win, no fee' arrangements
consent - definition-express or implied permission from the 'victim' for the defendant to
carry out the injury
constitutions - definition-sets of rules which state how a country is to be run and the
specific rights of its citizens
contemporaneity rule - definition-the general rule in English law that the actus reus and the
mens rea must occur at the same time
correspondence principle - definition-the result which the defendant intends or foresees
should match the result that actually occurs
criminal courts - definition-the Magistrates' Court deals mainly with summary offences,
and the Crown Court mainly deals with indictable offences
cyber-crime - definition-criminal activity carried out by the use of computers, generally via
the internet
damages - definition-money calculated to return the claimant to their original position
before the tort had taken place (in so far as it is possible to do so with money)
data protection - definition-the legal control of access to, and the use of, factual and
statistical data, generally stored in digital or paper-based systems
defendant - definition-legal term for a person defending or responding to a legal claim (a
respondent in some aspects of civil law)
delegated legislation - definition-secondary legislation, i.e. laws passed in a specific area
by a secondary body to which Parliament has passed its power
